Chapter 168: Shattered Seals, Unbroken Bonds

God Emperor's Secret Realm, Dragon Clan's Tomb

"It's been a long time since I last saw you," whispered Yu Tian, staring at a crystal coffin sealed with extremely powerful chains.

"Is this someone you know, Brother Tian?" asked Zhuqing, who stood beside Yu Tian in her spiritual form, having overheard his murmurs.

"That's correct," Yu Tian nodded without hiding anything and stepped toward the coffin. With a simple tap of his hand, the chains and coffin shattered into fragments.

"It's been too long, Nianyun," Yu Tian smiled and lightly tapped the forehead of the beautiful girl now cradled in his arms.

"Mmm~" The girl in Yu Tian's embrace let out a disgruntled sound and opened her eyes to see his face before her.

She was stunning—black hair cascading to her neck, a pair of golden, slit-pupiled eyes, a slender figure with long legs, a full rear, and a modest yet proportionate bust that did nothing to diminish her beauty.

"..." Feng Nianyun opened her golden eyes, staring in bewilderment at Yu Tian, who held her, and at the surroundings. She recognized the 13th floor of the Dragon Clan's Tomb, but the man before her was a mystery—someone who could destroy the technique separating her body from her soul with a single touch.

What shocked her more was that her body's automatic defense mechanism hadn't activated against him. Normally, anyone attempting to touch her would've been vaporized by the very technique she'd used to sever her body from her soul.

"Who… are you?" Nianyun's voice was hoarse and fragmented. It had been too long since she'd last used her body, and without her soul core to sustain it, she needed a few minutes for her physical functions to stabilize.

"Have you forgotten me, Yuna?" Yu Tian chuckled softly and tapped Nianyun's forehead again.

"You!!..." At the name "Yuna," Nianyun's eyes flew wide open—a title she hadn't heard in ages. "Are you truly… Master Li Mo?"

"It seems you haven't forgotten me, even after all the reincarnation cycles you've endured," Yu Tian smiled, helping Nianyun to her feet.

Though his first reincarnation had lived nearly 5 billion years, his longest lifespan was in the Apotheosis World, where he'd existed for over 100 billion years—a span so vast it predated even the God Domain or anyone within it.

In that unfathomable lifetime, many had accompanied him, but only two remained by his side until the end. One of them was Feng Nianyun, a dragon he'd saved long ago, who'd reincarnated repeatedly just to follow him.

"My name now is Yu Tian," he said, gently patting Nianyun's head, his heart warmed by her presence. She held a cherished place in his memories.

"I see… So you've reincarnated anew," Nianyun muttered before kneeling respectfully. "Nianyun welcomes Master's return."

"No need for formalities. You're no longer my Contracted Beast, but a dear companion who's walked with me for eons," Yu Tian shook his head lightly and helped her stand.

"Even if our contract is gone, my respect for you remains," Nianyun insisted stubbornly—but she didn't resist as Yu Tian steadied her.

"Fine, we'll discuss this later," Yu Tian smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a warm embrace. "I'm back, Nianyun," he whispered.

"Welcome home, Master," Nianyun smiled warmly, hugging him back and inhaling his familiar, soothing scent—one that had always brought her comfort and safety.

The two ignored everyone around them, lost in their own world.

"We should materialize bodies first, before the soul core's effect fades," Yudie said, tugging Zhuqing away. Though brimming with questions and frustration, she chose to set them aside for now.

"Alright," Zhuqing agreed. She wanted to ask Yu Tian many things, but this reunion was clearly sacred. Disturbing it would be inappropriate.

Without hesitation, Yudie and Zhuqing chose women's bodies from the coffins, merging their souls into them. They faced no resistance, quickly gaining control—though their movements were slightly awkward, unused to these new vessels.

"..." The Four Kings exchanged glances before hastily seizing male Dragon Clan corpses. The soul core's power was fading, leaving no time to waste.

"..." Luo Zheng watched the pair with wary curiosity, having caught fragments of their conversation. These two seemed like ancient beings powerful enough to reincarnate after death.

Though he longed to ask for help rescuing Xun or finding his sister Luo Yan, he sighed and shook his head. He'd had little interaction with them, and revealing his secrets recklessly was unwise.

With that thought, Luo Zheng claimed a random corpse nearby—his current goal being to obtain the Ancestral Dragon, as requested by the Green Dragon.

...

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